Don’t be deceived by desperate politicians, Fayemi tells Nigerians

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi obtained yesterday the All Progressives Congress’ (APC’s) nomination form for the June 21 governorship election.

The governor, who obtained the form with a N5.5 million Zenith Bank cheque at the APC National Secretariat in Abuja, said he is seeking reelection to consolidate on the achievements of his administration.

Fayemi, accompanied by his Deputy, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; lawmakers representing the state at the National Assembly; the Director-General of his campaign organisation, Bimbo Daramola; House of Assembly Speaker Adewale Omirin and a crowd of supporters, arrived at the APC Secretariat at about 11am.

He was received by the party’s National Secretary, Alhaji Tijani Tumsah, and the National Organising Secretary, Osita Izulaso.

Fayemi urged Nigerians to reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the general elections, adding that the “mishandling” of the National Immigration Service (NIS) recruitment, in which scores of applicants died, is enough reason to send the ruling party at the centre packing.

The governor, who called for a minute’s silence for the dead applicants, said the PDP-led Federal Government has failed Nigerians, especially the younger generation.

He said: “My excitement today is tempered by the horrific news that we received a few days ago of the death of scores of young people who sought employment but were given death by the Federal Government.

“The inhumane treatment meted out to our young people nationwide in the course of the NIS recruitment is a sad commentary on the degree of incompetence that pervades our Federal Government under the PDP. I strongly condemn this ugly incident, which is a shame to this country.”

The governor urged Ekiti people to be vigilant in the “coming days” and not be deceived by desperate aspirants.

He assured the people that the APC would continue to deliver good governance and expressed confidence that the party would win the governorship poll.

Fayemi said the performance of APC governors has shown that the party is committed to the people, adding: “It must be noted that today is a landmark in our journey towards the consolidation of our work in rebuilding our state. We are also excited by the strength and stability that our party has been acquiring since we witnessed the historic merger of political parties in the country into a united front. It is clear to the blind and resounding to the ears of the deaf that this is the party that is the government in-waiting in Abuja.”

He said he would run an issue-based campaign devoid of violence, adding that governance would not suffer during the electioneering period.

Tumsah said Fayemi and his team have served Ekiti people well in their three-and-a-half years in office.

He said the national body of the party has done its “reviews, investigation and evaluation” and sees Fayemi as “a true representative of the APC ideology”.

Tumsah said Fayemi’s “reelection” would prove that the APC has been accepted as the change agent party in Nigeria.

The party’s primary will hold on April 12. Ward congresses are slated for March 29. Local government congresses will hold on April 1 and the state congress on April 5.

Izunaso described the APC as the fastest growing political party in the black world, with 16 governors and many lawmakers in less than one year of its emergence.

‘My re-election is ordained by God’

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said his “reelection” is ordained.
He spoke at the All Progressives Congress (APC) State Secretariat in Ado-Ekiti shortly after arriving from Abuja, where he obtained the party’s governorship nomination form.
Fayemi said he is not in the race for material gains, adding: “We are not confused. We are very clear about where we have come from, where we are and where we are headed. When we started this journey, we said it is a collective rescue mission. That is the journey that has brought us this far. We are on the march again and we are unstoppable. We know that the journey has not reached an end because we have not finished the job. That is why we are in this race. It is to serve our people.”
He thanked those “who have been with him on the journey”, adding that the task of repositioning Ekiti for the benefit of the masses has not ended.
Fayemi said he was humbled by the love shown to him by party members and the people as his convoy journeyed from the Akure Airport to Ado-Ekiti.
He said though the campaign has not officially kicked off and he would never do anything to violate the Electoral Act, it would be difficult to censor people’s love, adding that it was strictly a party affair, devoid of canvassing for votes.
APC State Chairman Chief Jide Awe said the governor has shown that he his committed to the state’s growth and the best the party could do is to support his reelection bid.
Awe said: “If we know where we are coming from and what we have gone through, we will appreciate the great things God has done for us. We are going to another critical level and with what we have seen at all levels, we are going to triumph on June 21.”

It would be interesting to see which of the two parties, the PDP and the APC indeed has benefited the people by when each can showcase their performances during the coming electioneering campaigns. There was a time that the PDP became a party that was hated in the days of Oni administration because as said at the time, they were stingy with their money. Then came in the Fayemi administration, and people were ready to stone them on the street because of the non-development agenda of the government, except for the various summits. Now, let the two parties showcase their agenda for the development of Ekiti, and let the people decide, not by the ability to disrupt elections, but by showcasing their manifestoes to develop Ekiti.

Ladi Babson

One does not need to sleep in Ekiti to know what is going on there. I have never been to Imo State, but I once said that if I can get one Imo State citizen who can confirm what Governor Okorocha claimed to have accomplished in that State, I would vote for him fi he stands in a Presidential race. We can all read from the newspaper columns, hear the news on the screens, and see when we visit Ekiti State.